For years, critics have bemoaned the decline of reading among both children and adults, but new data actually presents hard numbers on how this behavior has actually declined. According to analysis conducted by Jean M. Twenge, PhD, of the recent Monitoring the Future report, kids these days have all but stopped reading. "Wait, we've heard this before," you might think, and … [Read more...] about Kids These Days… Have They Stopped Reading?
Digital Publishing News
Keanu Reeves Launches Book Imprint but It’s Not Erotic Lit
Is anyone else still recovering from the tidal wave of actors-turned-singers that ruined a little bit of the '80s for us? Big names like Don Johnson, Bruce Willis, Eddie Murphy, and Patrick Swayze made us all cringe a little by releasing albums, which is somehow not the same thing as a singer like Harry Connick, Jr. or Madonna turning to acting. In reality, entertainers have … [Read more...] about Keanu Reeves Launches Book Imprint but It’s Not Erotic Lit
Crown Publishing Recalls Cookbook Due to Poisonous Recipes
Never trust a skinny cook, as the old saying goes, and at the risk of body shaming anyone, Instagram "influencer" Johnna Holmgren is--to be honest--not the best source of information on how to live a healthy, robust life. Along with her chalk artist husband, the blogger's fondness for eating poisonous berries and wild mushrooms that induce vomiting and diarrhea, and it's not … [Read more...] about Crown Publishing Recalls Cookbook Due to Poisonous Recipes
Audiobook and ebook sales account for 19% of HarperCollins revenue
HarperCollins has just announced that they have generated over $490 million dollars in book sales in the past twelve months. Digital audiobook and ebook sales were up 6% and now account for 19% of the publishers revenue. The publisher has also proclaimed that book sales increased $122 million, or 7%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher sales in general books, … [Read more...] about Audiobook and ebook sales account for 19% of HarperCollins revenue
Firefox is going to get rid of RSS and Atom Feeds
Firefox has announced that they are going to discontinue support for RSS and Atom Feeds sometime between October and December 2018. "After careful consideration of various options (which also included doing nothing, or investing heavily in updating the code), we've decided to go ahead and remove builtin feed support from Firefox," said Gijs Kruitbosch, an engineer on the … [Read more...] about Firefox is going to get rid of RSS and Atom Feeds
Canadian authors can now submit their ebooks to Barnes and Noble
Barnes and Noble Nook Press is a self-publishing system that allows authors to include their ebooks in the Nook Bookstore and BN.com. Today Canadian authors can now submit their ebooks directly to the platform. This is the first time the bookseller has ever allowed writers from outside the United States into their walled garden. Although Canadians can sell their ebooks … [Read more...] about Canadian authors can now submit their ebooks to Barnes and Noble
Authors can now easily gift Kindle Books with Buy For Others
Amazon has just unveiled a new system today for authors called Buy For Others. It gives authors the ability to buy their own ebooks and gift them for social media giveaways, give newsletter subscribers a review copy or even give them away at events. The feature keeps everything in-house: Authors who purchase their own ebook through the feature will earn back royalties just … [Read more...] about Authors can now easily gift Kindle Books with Buy For Others
Quartz has been sold to Japanese company Uzabase
Atlantic Media has sold the popular website Quartz to Japanese financial publisher Uzabase in a deal valuing Quartz at between $75 million to $110 million. Launched in Japan in 2013 the Uzabase service NewsPicks has 3.3 million registered users and 64,000 paying subscribers. Quartz says its average audience is about 20 million unique visitors per month, spanning its website … [Read more...] about Quartz has been sold to Japanese company Uzabase
Automattic purchases digital publishing company Atavist
Automattic is the company responsible for developing and maintaining Wordpress and they have just acquired the technology and digital publishing company Atavist. The deal encompasses Atavist’s proprietary content management system, its customer base and the Atavist Magazine, which publishes long-form journalism every month. Atavist first started in 2011 by Freelance … [Read more...] about Automattic purchases digital publishing company Atavist
Tolino has a new director of digital media
Bernhard Mischke has been the digital business and customer service lead at Thalia and he has just been tapped to bne the new new managing director of Tolino Media. His primary responsibility will be to grow the ebook business. Bernhard succeeds Maximilian Hugendubel, who has had the position for the past six years. Tolino Media is the key content partner of the Tolino … [Read more...] about Tolino has a new director of digital media